How to Change Your Twitter Handle

Changing your X (formerly Twitter) handle is a fast technical fix, but picking the right new handle comes with strategic considerations that affect your brand. This guide walks you through the step-by-step process for changing your username and covers the important planning you need to do before and after to make the transition smooth for you and your audience.

Your Handle vs. Your Display Name: What's the Difference?

First, it's important to understand the two names associated with your X profile, because they serve very different purposes. Confusing them can lead to mistakes, so let’s clear it up right away.

Your Handle (or Username)

Your handle is your unique identifier on X. It’s what follows the "@" symbol and appears in your profile URL (e.g., twitter.com/YourHandle). This is the name people use to mention, tag, or reply to you. Think of it as your account's permanent address. It must be unique, no two accounts can share the same handle.

• Uniqueness: Entirely unique to you.
• Format: Between 4 and 15 characters.
• Characters Allowed: Only letters, numbers, and underscores (_). No spaces, dashes, or other symbols.
• Primary Function: Used for logins, mentions (@YourHandle), and your profile URL.

Your Display Name

Your display name sits above your handle on your profile and next to your profile picture in the feed. This is your personal or brand name and doesn't have to be unique. You can update it anytime without affecting your handle, and it can be much more descriptive.

• Uniqueness: Not unique. You and ten other people could have the display name "The Marketing Pro."
• Format: Up to 50 characters.
• Characters Allowed: Almost anything, including spaces and emojis.
• Primary Function: Serves as your primary, visible identity in tweets and conversations.

In short: Your display name is who you are. Your @handle is how people find you and talk to you. This article is all about changing that unique @handle.

Why You Might Want to Change Your Twitter Handle

People change their handles for all sorts of reasons, but most motivations fall into one of these categories. Seeing if your reason fits can help you commit to the best possible new handle for your goals.

• A Full Rebrand: The most common reason. If your company name changes, like from “SuperFast Startups” to “Velocity Inc,” you’ll want your social media handles to match. An old, outdated handle just creates brand confusion.
• Professional Growth: Maybe your first handle was @Sk8rPro_2008, which felt right at the time. As you build a professional brand or business, shifting to something like @JessicaMillerCFO helps align your social presence with your career.
• Improved Discoverability: A handle that's long, hard to spell, or full of random numbers is difficult for people to remember and tag. Changing from @chris_jones1984_NYC_ to @CJCreates makes you instantly more searchable and memorable.
• Brand Consistency: If your brand is @GlowUpBeauty on Instagram and TikTok, but your X handle is @GlowUpBeautyOfficial, it creates a small amount of friction. Securing the same handle across all platforms builds a stronger, more cohesive online identity.
• Finally Got It!: Sometimes the handle you've always wanted was taken. If you find out that it has suddenly become available, it's the perfect time to make the switch and grab your ideal username.

The Pre-Change Checklist: 4 Things to Do First

Don't just jump into your settings and change your handle on a whim. A little bit of upfront planning can save you from big headaches later on. Here’s a simple four-step checklist to run through before you make the switch.

1. Brainstorm and Check Availability

Your new handle is valuable real estate. Don’t settle for the first thing you think of. Spend some time brainstorming variations that are short, clear, and representative of your brand. Try to:

• Keep it short and memorable. The easier it is to type, the better.
• Relate it to your name or brand. Obvious, but essential.
• Avoid too many numbers and underscores. @LauraWrites looks cleaner and more professional than @Laura_Writes_123. One underscore is fine if needed, but more than that can look spammy.
• Make it easy to say out loud. If you mention your handle on a podcast or in a video, will people know how to spell it?

Once you have a list of options, check if they are available. The easiest way is to type twitter.com/DesiredHandle into your browser. If a profile loads, it's taken. If you get a "This account doesn’t exist" page, you're good to go.

2. Inform Your Audience (Don't Be a Ghost)

If you have an engaged following, suddenly changing your handle without notice can cause confusion. Your followers are used to seeing a specific name and profile picture in their feed. Give them a heads-up!

A few days before you plan to change it, post a simple announcement. Something like: "Quick update! We're doing a bit of rebranding and will be changing our handle to @YourNewHandle this Friday. Don't worry, all our content and history will stay right here!" Pinning this Tweet to your profile ensures anyone visiting will see it.

3. List All External Links

Where is your current X handle displayed? Think about all the places online and offline where you link to your profile. Common spots include:

• Your website's header, footer, or contact page
• Your other social media bios (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)
• Your email signature
• Your Linktree, Beacons, or other "link-in-bio" pages
• Business cards and other physical marketing materials
• Author bios on other websites or publications

Make a quick list. This will be your to-do checklist for immediately after you've made the change, so you can update everything at once.

4. Check When You Engage the Most

Try to change your handle during a time when your audience is less active, like a weekend evening or late at night. This minimizes immediate confusion and gives you a buffer to make all your updates without disrupting active conversations about your brand. It's a small detail, but it can make the transition feel smoother.

How to Change Your Twitter Handle: Step-by-Step Instructions

Ready to make the switch? The process itself only takes about a minute. Here are the exact steps for both desktop and mobile.

On Desktop (Web Browser)

1. Log in to your account on X.com.
2. In the left-hand navigation menu, click on More, then select Settings and privacy.
3. From the settings menu, choose Your account, then click on Account information.
4. X will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm it's you.
5. Click on Username. Here, you'll see your current handle.
6. Type your desired new handle into the box. If it's taken, a message will let you know. If it's available, you'll see a green checkmark or no warning message.
7. Click Save. The change is immediate.

On the X Mobile App (iOS and Android)

1. Open the X app and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner to open the menu.
2. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy.
3. Tap Your account, then Account information.
4. Tap on your current Username.
5. Type your new handle into the field. The app will confirm its availability as you type.
6. Once you've entered an available handle you like, tap Done. Your username is now updated.

That's it! Your new handle is now live.

What Happens After You Change Your Handle?

Updating your handle initiates an identity shift on the platform, but the good news is that your account's history and audience stay intact.

• What You Keep: All your existing data is preserved. This includes your followers, the accounts you follow, your past Tweets and replies, lists, and direct messages. You don't have to start over.
• What You Lose: Nothing, really... but your old handle is immediately released. As soon as you hit "Save," another user can claim your previous username. This is why having your post-change plan ready is so important.
• Verification Badge: If you are a verified user with a blue or gold checkmark, X states that you may temporarily lose it while they re-review your account. For a simple handle change on a profile that still complies with their rules, the checkmark typically returns shortly.
• Broken Links: Any links on external sites pointing to twitter.com/YourOldHandle will now lead to a "page not found" error, unless someone else grabs your old handle. This is why updating your marketing assets quickly is so important for directing traffic.

Your Post-Change Action Plan: Securing Your New Brand Identity

Changing your handle is just the first step. To make sure the transition sticks, follow these a couple of final steps.

1. Post Your Official Announcement: All that pre-planning comes in handy now. Post and pin a new Tweet announcing the change. It could be something simple like, "It's official! You can now find us at @NewHandle. Feel free to update your bookmarks. Exciting things ahead!" Using both the old and new handle helps connect the dots for anyone who missed your first heads-up.
2. Work Through Your Update Checklist: Pull out that list you made earlier and go update your handle everywhere it's mentioned. Head to your website, other social profiles, and email signature and make the change. Consistency is what makes a new brand identity feel professional and complete.
3. Consider Claiming Your Old Handle: This is a pro-level move. To prevent squatters or impersonators from grabbing your old handle and confusing your audience, you can create a brand new, empty account to "park" on your old handle. In the bio and a pinned Tweet of that account, simply state: “We've moved! You can now find us at our new home @BrandNewHandle.” This acts as a helpful redirect and protects your old identity.

Final Thoughts

Changing your X handle is a simple technical task, but the real work lies in choosing a name that fits your brand and managing the transition with a clear plan. By taking the time to prepare before and update your assets after, you can refresh your identity on the platform without losing momentum or confusing your hard-earned audience.

Managing one handle change is straightforward, but keeping your branding consistent across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Threads can feel like a tall order. We built Postbase to solve this, creating a simple visual calendar where you can see all your content and profiles in one place. It helps you maintain that consistent presence without the hassle, especially after a big change like a rebrand.